Ella Langley emerged as the standout winner at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards held Sunday night, capturing five awards including song and single of the year for 'Choosin’ Texas'. Cody Johnson was honored as entertainer of the year.
Langley's Winning Streak
Langley took home five awards in total. Her track 'Choosin’ Texas' claimed both song and single of the year, while she was also recognized as female artist of the year and artist-songwriter of the year. Additionally, she was acknowledged for her contribution to 'Don’t Mind If I Do' by Riley Green featuring Langley, winning music event of the year.
Top Awards and Performances
Cody Johnson also received the award for male artist of the year. Parker McCollum’s self-titled album was named album of the year. The Red Clay Strays secured the group of the year title, and Brooks & Dunn won duo of the year. Avery Anna and Tucker Wetmore were recognized as best new female and male artists, respectively. Jessie Jo Dillon was awarded songwriter of the year for the third year in a row.
Star-Studded Ceremony
Hosted by Shania Twain, the ceremony was streamed live on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The evening featured performances by Langley, Anna, Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett & Jordan Davis, Zach Top, Little Big Town, Riley Green, the Red Clay Strays, Kacey Musgraves, Carter Faith, Parker McCollum & Lee Ann Womack, and Kane Brown. The show opened with a dynamic performance by Wilson and concluded with Blake Shelton’s tribute to Kenny Rogers, performing 'The Gambler' in honor of the late songwriter Don Schlitz.
Tributes and Highlights
Lauren Alaina delivered an emotional introduction for Dan + Shay, who dedicated their performance of 'Say So' to Ben Vaughn, the late president and CEO of Warner Chappell Nashville. Awards were voted on by a record-high membership of more than 5,000 members of the Academy of Country Music. The eligibility period for this year's awards was the calendar year 2025.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/acm-awards-2026-winners-list-1236598218/
